Mr Putin said the joint song competition could rival the annual Eurovision Song Contest.

"Conducting an international modern song contest - Intervision - would strengthen cultural ties between our nations," Interfax news agency quoted Mr Putin as telling a meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) heads of government in Beijing.

It was not immediately clear whether Iran, India, Mongolia and Pakistan - which have SCO observer status - would take part.

The annual Eurovision contest started in 1956 and reaches a TV audience of some 100 million, despite its reputation in many countries as a celebration of kitsch.